The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-28

varying too far to the east, others too
far to the west. The oldest one, and
that generally adopted by the inhab-
itants as the boundary line, passes to
the east, and from measurements
made to it, l found that it was not
very correctly run. The surveyors
compass was used for the purpose,
and some incorrect variation of the
needle allowed.
Owing to the thick and heavy
growth of timber. it is utterly i'm
possible to run straight line cor
rectly through it without first OPEN
ing line of sight; it could only be-
approximately done. When north
of the railroad, and the nearer the
Pennsylvania line is approached, the
settlements and farms become more
numerous; and if the meridian line
is ADOPTED as the boundary it will
cause great litigation, as the patents
for the most of the lands call for the
boundary as their limits. On the
Pennsylvania boundary the new line
is about three quarters of a mile
west of the old, on the railroad,
- feet; at WeilI's field So feet /; on
the North West Turnpike about 40
feet, and on the Backbone about 20
feet The Meridian was traced by nae
with the assistance Of Mr.. L. Daser.
AT all the principal stations astron-
omical observations ON North and
South stars were made with a Gam
ley Sextant and artificial horizon FOR
Latitude: and also series of barom-
etrical readings taken with Green's
Cistern barometerS, at many points;
these last were often interrupted,
however, and no connected or contin-
nous set obtained owing 10 the neees-
sity of myself and assistant absenting
ourselves from camp, either to estab-
fish distant signals or TO superintend
the cutting out of the line. The nee
essary computation for getting the
heights of different mountain points
have not yet beea made, but profile
of the line will be furnished in con-
nection with the maps of the West
ern Meridian, whenever authority is
granted me to make them. The lat
itudes have already been completed.
Observations with the transit upon
the moon and moon eliminating
stars to obtain the longitude of the
line during parts Of three successive
unations were also made, but the re-
suits have not yet been computed.
At the same time that was engaged
in tracing and marking the Meridian,
other field operations were being
conducted by my principal assistant
surveyor Mr., de la Camp. I had
| placed him in charge of a party to
survey all the the roads, streams,
trails and lands in the neighborhood
of the line and also to sketch in all
| the general Typographical features of
the country. In running his line of
surveys, he at the same time meas
ured with the vertical circle of the
Theodolite the angle of elevation and
depression of the different courses,
so that true representation of the
character of those mountainous re-
giOns can be given on the maps.
This system of dwelling, combined
with the line of levels run along the
track of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and the barometrical meas
urements made at the principal sta
tons will furnish great deal of USE
full information, supplying the eleya-
tions above the level of the sea of
many interesting local points along
and in the neighborhood of the line.
These surveys were conducted as far
as the monument erected on the rail-
road, although some incom pIete work
remains to be attended to South oft
The belt of country between the rail-
road and the Pennsylvania line has
still to be surveyed along the line.
The lateness of the season would not
have permitted the completion of the
work, even if the necessary funds
had been available at the time. The
distances along the line were also
measured between Fairfax Stone and
Stahl's Hill, and stakes, between ten
and twelve feet high, above the
ground and some four inches in d.
ameter. were also planted as marks
in addition to the stone monuments
at the principal stations. These mon
uments varied from four to six feet
above the ground. about two feet
square at the base, and capped with a
small pyramidical cut stone.
To be continued neat Ueek.l